Claim: Consumers can receive a coupon for a free chicken sandwich and Coke at Chick-fil-A by registering at freechickenandcoke.com.

Status:Was true; fulfillment level has now been reached.

Example:[Collected via e-mail, August 2007]

FREE CHICKEN!!!!

Chick-Fil-A is giving away 1,000,000 coupons for a free CFA sandwich and coke. They started at midnight on the 20th and apparently haven't gotten to 1,000,000 yet! (I just ordered one — they come by mail.) This is the link: www.freechickenandcoke.com

If they don't reach 1,000,000 by Sept 29, 2007 the give-a-way ends then.

It's real, so if you like chicken, click on www.freechickenandcoke.com

Origins: Started in 1946 at a diner

originally called the Dwarf Grill, Chick-fil-A is the second-largest fast-food chain specializing in chicken dishes in the U.S. Operating more than 1,300 restaurants in about 40 states, the Atlanta-based chain (famous for its bovine-themed "Eat Mor Chikin" campaign) offers chicken entrees, chicken sandwiches, and salads along with its popular waffle fries and fresh-squeezed lemonade. (In accordance with the religious beliefs of the company's founder and chairman, S. Truett Cathy, all Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays.)

On 20 August 2007, Chick-fil-A, in partnership with Coca-Cola, began offering coupons redeemable for free chicken sandwiches and Coke to consumers who sign up through the web site freechickenandcoke.com. (The coupons are distributed via U.S. Mail.) The promotion is advertised as running through 29 September 2007 or until 1 million eligible participants have registered, whichever comes first.

Although the "Free Chicken and Coke" offer is legitimate, we'll point out a couple of things prospective registrants might want to keep in mind in deciding whether the cost of a "free" sandwich and soda is worth the bargain:

The e-mail quoted above is very typical of promotional messages created and sent by companies trying to drive visitors to their web sites (disguised as grass-roots mailings from anonymous but helpful Internet users altruistically trying to let everybody know about some terrific deals they might be missing), so participants in this promotion may be tacitly endorsing spam.